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Motor racing-Ferrari drivers back FIA race control overhaul

By February 17, 2022Sports games

Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz have backed the governing FIA’s restructuring of Formula 1’s race control operation in response to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix which resulted in the replacement of Michael Masi as chief racing officer. race.

The federation’s newly elected president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, said in a video uploaded Thursday that the Australian will be replaced by Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas who will alternate as race directors. The Emirati, who said Masi would be offered another role with the FIA, also announced other changes.

These include the introduction of a virtual racing control room, similar to football’s VAR, a reassessment of safety car clearance procedures, the return of F1 stalwart Herbie Blash as as permanent senior adviser to the two race directors and the end of the broadcast of radio transmissions. between the teams and the race management. “I actually like what I see,” Sainz told reporters after the launch of Ferrari’s 2022 car.

“I also welcome the new race directors and I’m sure they will have a very difficult job to do, as we have seen in recent years in Formula 1. It is a very difficult role, especially in the fiery skin Charlie who we all definitely miss.

“But we also accept that this role has to be done properly, has to be supported, as foreseen by the FIA.” Masi, who was thrust into the role of race director following the death of respected predecessor Charlie Whiting ahead of the 2019 season, has come under fire after changing the safety car procedure to set up a final lap showdown between the rivals reigning Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen in Abu Dhabi. .

The Australian only moved the lapped cars between race-leading Hamilton and second-placed Verstappen, allowing the Red Bull driver, on cooler tires, to take the lead from rival Mercedes on the final lap, denying him an unprecedented eighth. Title. Ben Sulayem’s proposed overhaul was presented at Monday’s Formula 1 Commission meeting. It was unanimously approved by all teams and F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali.

“I have a lot of respect for Michael and everything he’s done,” Leclerc said. “But again, the FIA ​​has made a decision…so I’m fully confident it’s the right decision and we’ll move on.”

(This story has not been edited by the Devdiscourse team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)